Pinball on the move, with added Pokemon flavour

Author's Rating:

Pros: A very well-polished pinball game

Cons: A bit too easy. Needs more tables.

The Bottom Line: 
Pinball fans should get it. Pokemon fans should get it. Everyone else should give it a try if they have the opportunity.

Author's Review
The original Pokemon Pinball was the reason why I bought a GBC. I'm a huge fan of pinball video games. As such, this title had a lot to live up to.

As a pinball game it has a nice set of ramps, loops, bumpers and targets across two tables. It also has a comprehensive set of high-scoring patterns (loop twice, hit this trap, hit these bumpers, etc). Judged purely as a pinball game, it's a very enjoyable one. No multi-ball though.

As a video pinball game it uses many elements that you would expect for something not actually constrained by physical reality. It has about half a dozen different bonus screens. It has events that can freeze the ball and it even has animated characters that roam free around the table. It reminds me of Crueball or Dragon's Fury/Devil Crash.

As a Pokemon game it has all the requisite critters. The core Pokemon theme comes in the form of catching and evolving pokemon. At any given time you're considered to be at a particular location. This location affects which pokemon are available to catch. You can travel to other locations if you manage the right combo of targets and loops. The original PP had one way to catch pokemon and one way to evolve them. PP:R&S adds at least two new ways to catch pokemon, involving bonus screens plus cute little critters actually wandering around the table. As you catch them, they're added to your pokedex.

As a sequel, it adds significantly to the family. The first thing you'll notice as different from the original is that the table scrolls. The original version switched, quite well, between two static halves of the table. It was playable, but strange given that other gameboy pinball games had already demonstrated that it was possible to scroll the entire table. Another key difference between the original and new PP games is the addition of coins and a Pokemart where you can buy various bonuses, such as the previously mentioned ball saver. All other graphical aspects of the game, as well as all the music and sound effects, have been given a significant upgrade.

For those unfamiliar with the original, both the old and new PP games do a lot to help you keep the ball in play. Kickback is easy to enable, repeatedly. A "ball saver" can be enabled for 30, 60 and 90 seconds, during which time it's impossible to loose the ball. Good players will keep the ball saver running almost all the time. The original was a rumble-cart. There is a rumble mode in the new game but only if you're using a GameCube Gameboy Player. It's a shame, but I guess the GBA carts are just too small to tack on a rumble pack.

Link options include the ability to merge scores and your pokedex with friends'.

Ultimately though, the game is possibly too easy. I've only played six games and already I've got a total score of over 5 billion. Billion, with a "B". After only these half-dozen games it's already starting to feel a bit repetitive. I imagine I'll be more than ready to put it down by the time Sonic Pinball Party hits Australian shores.